What can you do with hazardous material?



You’ve been asked to dispose of one-hundred old laptop computers, but you know that many of the components of these systems contain hazardous materials. Where is the best source of information on how to dispose of these components?

A) The manufacturer’s technical support department

B) The local solid waste disposal organization

C) The manufacturer’s laptop user guide

D) The computer’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)


The answer: D) The computer’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

The United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires a Material Safety Data Sheet is required whenever hazardous materials are present. These MSDS documents are included as part of the documentation and can usually be downloaded directly from the manufacturer’s web site.


Want to know more? Watch “Managing Safety Hazards.”

As technology professionals, we occasionally have to operate in environments where safety hazards may exist. In this module, we’ll show you how to avoid problems with high voltage computer equipment and environmental hazards, and we’ll discuss the best ways to dispose of hazardous materials. More importantly, we’ll show you how to handle accident situations that might occur when working in our high-tech environments.